Where a Gründerzeit courtyard once served commercial purposes, a bright new daycare now thrives. Its articulated, pale brick façade honors the district's industrial heritage while radiating Mediterranean warmth. When the space became cramped, Frankfurt approved this daycare expansion—its multipurpose room and hall now welcome neighborhood groups and community initiatives beyond operating hours.

To maximize the irregularly shaped site, Pressel & Müller Architects conceived a star-shaped structure that creates intimate play courts—each directly accessible from group and quiet zones. The daycare glows warmly against its varied urban backdrop, its solid brick envelope clad in pale water-struck clinker. The two-tone façade, framed by a diamond motif, subtly nods to both the expressionism of the nearby Hoechst chemical works and the district's vernacular building traditions. The entrance ingeniously mirrors this diamond relief—reversed in color—creating a natural threshold. Inside, a double-height central foyer welcomes arrivals and connects fluidly with an adjacent hall for neighborhood gatherings. Corridors branch into light-filled wings housing group and activity spaces; generous windows frame views across the varied terrain. Materials chosen—larch, exposed plaster, ceramic, bronze, linoleum—stay quietly in the background while offering children a rich sensory landscape.

Given the distinctive inner courtyard setting, the client and architects opted for an EnEV-30 per cent energy standard rather than passive house certification. The building's location within the hazard zone of Höchst Industrial Park's rail yard imposed additional requirements under the SEVESO II Directive, which mandates emergency containment measures—including rapid, secure sealing of the building envelope and integrated alarm systems. Yet the double-shell façade remains purely ceramic, allowing the materials to be fully deconstructed, repurposed as building materials, and returned to the material cycle. It's little wonder the kindergarten earned a place among just 20 projects selected for the shortlist of the state award "Exemplary Buildings in Hesse 2023" and the DAM Prize 2023.

www.pressel-mueller.de

Photography:

Thomas Mies
www.thomasmies.de

(Featured in CUBE Frankfurt 02|23)